The second annual Murray State University Block and Bridle Club’s cattle show, held at the university’s expo center had 118 head of cattle – triple the amount from last year, and more than 150 professional participants.

That is what John Hopson, a member of the Block and Bridle Club, said during the show, which took place all day Saturday.

He also said that the entire event is organized by students in the Block and Bridle Club, a club whose stated mission is “to sponsor and promote livestock related youth events; develop fellowship among members, stimulate interest in animal agriculture; and support teaching, research and service activities that will promote livestock production in our region.”

Hopson said that people brought in 38 head of cattle during the first cattle show last year, and that he hopes it will continue to grow. He also said that it was started last year by the Block and Bridle Club because there isn’t a cattle show in the area.

“The idea is to see more young people get into livestock production and agriculture,” said Hopson.

Becky Mosbacher is in her second year of putting on the show, and she has a similar opinion on why they hold the cattle show.

“It’s more for the youth than it is for the adults, because it’s something for them to do,” Mosbacher said. “And the livestock sharing program teaches them responsibility and lets them have something of their own … and prove themselves.”

Mosbacher said they prepare for the show all year, although the last few weeks are the busiest, and they’re doing something almost every day, even as they have to do non-related classwork. Work includes getting sponsors, bringing cattle people to the show and raising awareness of it, she added.

There were four states that were represented at the show – Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and Indiana, Hopson said.

Ricky Cunningham of R & R Angus, based near Murray, was one of the people to bring cattle to the show. He said they have a show string of cattle that they use to promote their business, and that this is their second time at this show.

“We feel that the show cattle are very instrumental in our commercial ventures,” Cunningham said. “We are thrilled that Murray State Block and Bridle is putting on this show.”

Scott Sinnamon was also there, but to sell show supplies like feed, and his business, Sinnamon Show Supply hails from Kokomo, Ind. Like Mosbacher, he said that this kind of event teaches responsibility to the students.

Hopson, a Trigg County native, can trace his family back to before the county was officially founded.